Getting a VN drivers license

nighthawk
Member
Posts: 11
(5/30/01 6:44:19 pm)
| Del All Getting a VN drivers license
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If any of you had to deal with the Vietnamese bureaucracy, you will be able to relate to this. Hell, this could be any country’s bureaucracy.


A friend was DEROS’ing and had a nice little motorcycle to sell. I decided to buy it. MACV regs and VN law said you’ve got to get a VN drivers license. Can do easy (I thought) Took the MACV test. No sweat, 15 minutes. Then on to the VN part. Downtown to the license department. Stand in one line for an hour. Go down the hall to another office. Stand in another line for another hour. My turn. The conversation went something like this;

You want driver's license?
That's why I'm here.
You sign here, pay 5000 P
OK
Go there, take test.
OK
You speak Vietnamese?
No.
You read Vietnamese?
No.
You pay interpreter 2500 P, he read for you.
Okay, can do.
You write Vietnamese?
No.
Interpreter write for you, you pay 2500 P. This man, he watch, sign name that interpreter write what you say. You pay him 2500 P.
Take my money.
Test done. You do okay. Go take picture.
I know, how much?
2000 P.
All done here drivers license but first must post insurance bond.
Got me again. How much?
15,000 P.
The bike only cost me forty bucks. The license and crap cost me damn over sixty dollars.
But, damn, it was worth it!

I was reminded of this when I was going through some old photos, and came across my VN divers license. I had a lot of fun with that when I returned to the world and got asked for ID in some bar or other. It’s still good for a few laughs.


homer4
Moderator
Posts: 694
(5/30/01 8:37:17 pm)
| Del Re: Getting a VN drivers license
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Good Grief...how much would a speeding ticket end up costing there Hawk?.
...and two hard boiled eggs.

Tac401
Administrator
Posts: 780
(5/31/01 12:34:27 am)
| Del
ezSupporter
Re: Getting a VN drivers license
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That was funny as hell lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JD
The Firearms Forum Vietnam Memories Bulletin Board Contact Administrator

LarryJK
Senior Chief Moderator III
Posts: 57
(5/31/01 7:05:06 am)
| Del Re: Getting a VN drivers license
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Hawk...that was a damn good memory...funny!!!!!

nighthawk
Member
Posts: 12
(5/31/01 1:04:18 pm)
| Del Re: Getting a VN drivers license
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Homer,,I don't think I ever saw anyone get a speeding ticket,,you just bribed the cops,,lol
I did have a small accident,,a sweet young lady on a scooter came out of a side street and hit me,,her fault,,the White-Mice were right there,,had to pay her 1000P for her broken headlight, plus 1000P and 2 packs of Marlboro to the white-mice. wonder what it would have cost me if it had been my ault,,,lol,,I would probably still be paying on it,,

homer4
Moderator
Posts: 711
(5/31/01 5:45:31 pm)
| Del Re: Getting a VN drivers license
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Got a Baptist Preacher buddy that was a Missionary to Haiti for maybe 15 yrs or so (now in the Dominican Republic) and he continually had to bribe his way to survive there...it's a way of life there.

I've posted before about bribery and corruption but it was lost along with everyone elses back when.

The Nam was a nuthouse.
...and two hard boiled eggs.